Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell endured a challenging first season as a starter, but after a strong spring he appears poised to hold the starting position.Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

DETROIT — Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio is a straight shooter, always has been, probably always will be.

So when Dantonio talked about his quarterback situation on Tuesday at the Westin following his appearance at the Detroit Economic Club, the gathered throng of about a dozen media was all ears.

"As I said after the spring game, right now Andrew Maxwell is our quarterback,'' Dantonio said, "and we're moving in that direction, but we've got to play well.''

Translation: Maxwell is the man if he doesn't do anything to lose the job.

Dantonio is not averse to playing two quarterbacks at once — he showed that in 2009 when he let the Kirk Cousins-Keith Nichol QB competition play out.

Dantonio said fans can expect to see another quarterback playing in addition to Maxwell, even if there's not an out-and-out competition for the job.

"In line with the quarterback situation, I think it's important to recognize that Maxwell is a senior and we need to get someone ready as we move forward, so you'll see another quarterback playing a little bit,'' Dantonio said. "Certainly, there will be competition in camp to see where that's at.

"I do think it's important we take a broad-based look at all four quarterbacks that are in camp.''

This translation could prove a bit trickier, but it almost sounds as if the competition is for the second spot in the quarterback rotation.

Or, does Dantonio trade in the known for the relatively unknown — at the collegiate level, at least — incoming freshman Damion Terry?

Dantonio sounds comfortable with all four.

"I think our quarterback situation is in better shape than it was last year, we have four scholarship quarterbacks,'' he said. "We have a redshirt freshman who has a lot of practice experience, We have a dynamic freshman coming in, we have an experienced quarterback coming back that's played in 13 games.

"And another guy, Connor Cook, that's coming back that has the game experience and bowl experience where he really led the team to a winning score,'' Dantonio continued. "There is talent at that position. All those things are a positive. We've got to make plays and deliver at that position.''